After a massive OT win in Vegas on Thursday night, the Edmonton Oilers were back at Rogers Place for a little matinee action against the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks. And in what could be a playoff matchup down the line, these two teams definitely played this game like it meant way more than just some other night. It was intense. It was fun. And for those of us who cheer for the orange and blue, there couldn’t be a better outcome than a 4-2 regulation win.

We’re so spoiled with the Oilers’ power play, aren’t we? Even though the team is still comfortably in first place in PP success, the boys have stumbled into a 2-for-24 over the last nine games. Obviously, the power play was going to take a hit without Leon Draisaitl available in his office on the right side, but I’m honestly surprised that it’s been this much of a grind lately. Again, I know that Leon is the business end of many, many PP goals, but we’re going to need someone else to figure out how to get some pucks over the line. But to this point, that’s been more of a wish than an expectation.

I mean, life would have been a whole lot easier had the Oilers not struck out on all three of their power play opportunities. That’s not to say that there were some quality chances, nor am I ignoring Lukas Dostal being the Ducks’ best penalty killer, but we gotta find a way to bear down here a little more. Yet, at the same time, I don’t really know what the solution is. Do you have to come up with a few different looks and plays that you wouldn’t normally run to try and open up a cross seam pass for a one-timer on either the right or left side? Do you overload the net and hope someone can clean up some garbage? Either way, teams are clearly looking for Bouchard to be the shooter with Draisaitl on the shelf, and we’re going to need some kind of adjustments for the last eight games.

I won’t lie to you, friends. I was feeling pretty confident when the Oilers were up by a field goal with just under 14 minutes to go. Even though we’ve been burned by third period collapses on more than a few occasions this season, I thought the boys so handily had this game in the bag that I started making my win memes for the Nation’s Instagram account. Needless to say, that was not the case. Instead, the Ducks pumped two goals past Connor Ingram in a span of just under three minutes. Not exactly the stress-free wrap to the game that you’d draw up on the board, you know?

Even though Anaheim wasn’t able to get closer than being down by one goal, wouldn’t it have been cool if the Oilers could have just shut things down without letting them get close? I know that’s easier said than done, but there have been a whole lot of stressful moments over the last few games with our side coughing up leads to both Vegas and Anaheim. No, you can’t always expect smooth sailing to locking down wins, but it sure would be nice to cruise to the finish line every now and then. Then again, maybe battling through some adversity down the stretch is exactly what this team needs as we head into the playoffs. If we look at things that way, finding ways to win even though the other team is pushing hard can only serve us well. Dare to dream?

By beating the Ducks in regulation, the Oilers pulled themselves to within three points of the division lead with eight games to go. Yes, Anaheim has that game in hand, but we’re in a much better spot right now than we would have been if our boys had lost and been down by seven. Winning in regulation put Edmonton right back in the mix. I don’t know that many of us would have expected that with the way things were going just a couple of weeks ago.

If the Oilers can keep playing this well over the last couple of weeks of the season, I don’t see any reason they can’t put themselves in a position with a real chance at their first division title since 1987. That might have sounded like a pipe dream not that long ago, but the math is starting to swing back in their favour, and more importantly, so is the way they’re playing. The details are getting tighter. The effort is there every night. And even without Leon Draisaitl in the lineup, this group is finding ways to win games that they probably weren’t a month ago. That’s the part that gives me the most confidence.

This isn’t about scoreboard watching or hoping Anaheim stumbles. It’s about taking care of your own business and putting pressure on the team ahead of you. If the Oilers can keep stacking wins, keep playing with this level of urgency, and keep getting contributions up and down the lineup, they’re going to make things very uncomfortable for anyone sitting above them in the standings. There’s still work to do, no question, but for the first time in a while, it actually feels like the door is open. Now it’s on them to walk through it.

Edmonton hockey fans — think you and your crew know playoff hockey? Prove it at the Nation Playoff Draft Party on Friday, April 17th at the River Cree Resort & Casino. Build your playoff roster, compete against other teams throughout the postseason, and battle for $2,500 cash and Nation bragging rights. Team entry is $1,000 for groups of 8, which includes dinner and your first bevy. The night will be hosted by Ryder & Lisa from The Sauce and Tyler & Liam from ON Everyday, so expect plenty of energy, competition, and chirps. Spots are limited — sign your team up now at nationgear.ca. All proceeds from the event support KidSport Edmonton, helping ensure local kids can stay in the game.